When Shrinivas Mandhana, the 62-year-old father of Indian women’s cricket captain Smriti Mandhana, collapsed with chest pain during wedding preparations in Sangli, the celebration didn’t just pause — it vanished. It was 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The sangeet had ended just two days prior. The haldi ceremony had faded into Instagram highlights. And now, the man who had watched his daughter rise from local cricket grounds to international stardom was lying in a hospital bed, his heart sending warning signals no one wanted to hear.
A Wedding Stopped in Its Tracks
The wedding of Smriti Mandhana and music composer Palash Muchhal was supposed to be the event of the year in Indian celebrity circles. Over half a million engagements had piled up on social media from the pre-wedding events. But at 1:30 p.m. on November 23, all of that stopped. Shrinivas Mandhana, who had been overseeing the final details at the venue, suddenly clutched his chest. His son called their family doctor, Dr. Naman Shah, who dispatched an ambulance within minutes. By 2:00 p.m., Shrinivas was at the hospital. By 3:30 p.m., tests confirmed elevated cardiac enzymes — a clear sign of heart stress, possibly angina, possibly more. Blood pressure was high. The doctors didn’t say heart attack. But they didn’t rule it out either.
By 5:45 p.m., Tuhin Mishra, Smriti’s manager, issued a statement: "Smriti is very clear — she wants her father to be okay first." The wedding was postponed indefinitely. No new date. No vague promises. Just silence, and focus.
Then, the Fiancé Got Sick Too
But the family’s luck didn’t turn around the next day — it got worse. On Monday, November 24, 2025, at 10:20 a.m., Palash Muchhal, the 35-year-old composer known for his work on the 2022 film Dil Bechara, was rushed to the same Sangli hospital. He was suffering from a severe viral infection and acute acidity, the kind that can make you feel like you’re drowning in your own stomach. He wasn’t having a heart issue. But he was in pain. He was weak. He was in the same building where Shrinivas Mandhana was being monitored around the clock.
Palash was discharged by 4:15 p.m. That same day. He was stable. He was fine. But the emotional toll? That didn’t leave with him. "It’s like the universe is testing them," said one family friend who asked not to be named. "They were supposed to start their life together. Instead, they’re sitting in a hospital waiting room, holding hands, wondering if this is how it begins."
The Medical Reality Behind the Headlines
Dr. Naman Shah, the family physician who has treated Shrinivas Mandhana for years, gave a rare public update on November 24. "Angina," he said, "is the body’s alarm. It’s not always a heart attack — but it’s a warning you can’t ignore." He confirmed elevated cardiac enzymes — troponin levels above normal — which suggest heart muscle stress. Blood pressure was slightly elevated, but not dangerously so. The big question: Does he need an angiography? That’s the procedure where doctors thread a catheter into the heart to check for blockages. "We’ll wait 24 to 48 hours," Dr. Shah said. "If the enzymes come down and his symptoms stabilize, he might walk out. If not… we’ll go in."
There’s no sugarcoating it: at 62, with a history of stress and likely sedentary lifestyle amid his daughter’s demanding cricket career, Shrinivas Mandhana was vulnerable. He’d been managing the wedding logistics for weeks — long hours, late nights, emotional highs, and now, this.
What This Means for Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana, 28, has played 120 international matches since her debut in 2013. She’s been vice-captain since 2021. She’s fought sexism, media scrutiny, and injuries. But nothing prepared her for this. The wedding wasn’t just a party — it was a milestone. A promise. A quiet moment after years of global tours and national pressure. Now, she’s choosing her father over the spotlight. And that’s not weakness. That’s strength.
"She hasn’t spoken to the media," Tuhin Mishra confirmed. "She’s not signing autographs. She’s not posting on Instagram. She’s sitting by his bedside. That’s all that matters."
Behind the Scenes: The Ripple Effect
The cancellation sent shockwaves. Caterers canceled. Florists refunded. The venue, booked for months, sat empty. The sangeet video — with Smriti dancing in a lehenga, Palash playing the dholak — still has 320,000 views on YouTube. But comments have shifted. No more "Congrats!" Now it’s "Prayers for Papa," "Hope he recovers soon," "Family first."
And in a quiet corner of Sangli, a hospital room holds more than a patient. It holds a family’s future. The wedding will happen. But not until Shrinivas Mandhana is strong enough to walk his daughter down the aisle. And that’s the only timeline that matters now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was an angiography mentioned as a possibility for Shrinivas Mandhana?
Angiography is recommended when cardiac enzymes remain elevated and symptoms persist, indicating possible blocked arteries. It’s a diagnostic procedure to visualize blood flow in the heart. Dr. Naman Shah indicated it’s a precaution, not a certainty — only if Shrinivas’s condition worsens over the next 24–48 hours will doctors proceed with it.
How did Palash Muchhal’s illness impact the wedding plans?
Though Palash’s viral infection was non-cardiac and resolved within hours, his hospitalization added emotional strain during an already traumatic time. With both the bride’s father and fiancé under medical care, the family chose to prioritize health over ceremony. His discharge didn’t restart planning — only Shrinivas’s recovery will.
Why hasn’t Smriti Mandhana made a public statement?
Her manager, Tuhin Mishra, confirmed she’s intentionally avoiding media to focus on her father’s recovery. This isn’t silence out of indifference — it’s a deliberate, deeply personal choice. Smriti has faced intense public scrutiny before, but this time, she’s choosing privacy over publicity — a rare and powerful act in today’s celebrity culture.
What’s the timeline for Shrinivas Mandhana’s discharge?
Doctors are monitoring cardiac enzyme levels and blood pressure every 6–8 hours. If markers normalize within 24–48 hours, he may be discharged. But there’s no fixed date. His recovery, not the wedding calendar, dictates the next steps. The family has requested confidentiality on all medical details.
Is this the first time a major Indian athlete’s wedding has been postponed due to family health?
Not the first — but it’s rare at this scale. In 2018, cricketer Yuvraj Singh delayed his wedding after his mother’s cancer treatment. In 2021, badminton star Saina Nehwal postponed her ceremony for her father’s surgery. But few have had such public, high-profile pre-wedding events canceled mid-flow. Smriti’s case stands out because of the social media frenzy and the dual health crisis.
How has the public reacted to the postponement?
The response has been overwhelmingly supportive. Hashtags like #PrayForPapaMandhana trended across Twitter and Instagram. Even rival cricket fans sent messages of hope. What began as a celebrity wedding story became a human one — reminding people that behind every athlete is a family, and sometimes, family comes before fame.
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